Stripping rubber from a wiring loom

[Escy]

I've got an Audi wiring loom, there is a section that runs the length of the bulkhead which is encased in rubber (the loom is put in a mould and molten rubber is poured over the loom). I need to stip the rubber off it as it's rigid and I need to have the loom flexible to re-route it. It's a nightmare trying to pull the wires out individually. Is there anything I can use that will soften up/dissolve the rubber but not affect the insulation on the wires? Petrol maybe?

[E-bmw]

Hot water/use of a hair drier to warm it will help it become flexible temporarily to some extent depending on the properties of the compound used.

I wouldn't recommend any solvents as you don't know exactly what it is & it could also affect the wiring.

[buzzer]

Try some acetone.... Not sure what effect it has on the wire insulation though....

I was talking to a guy who was in trouble with an audi loom... Seems he took the car to a back street garage for a clutch. In doing it they damaged the loom as they dropped the gearbox, and after that the car would not start. The garage towed it to a dealer, who said it needed a new loom, and quoted £xxxxxx.

The garage then tried to repair the loom by cutting wires out and splicing new ones in, but this interfered with some signals to the ECU, and the car still wouldnt start.

It got messy then and he ended up selling the car for salvage... I wonder if anyone ever got it running. Modern cars i guess, to me a wire is a wire!

[tapkaJohnD]

Tyre softener??
http://griptyresoftener.com/ Expensive for the job though.

Or DiY from a chemicals supplier. But read the Hazard Warning!
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=215587

JOhn

[Megaflow]

Despite looking like rubber, it is more than likely foam. Foam over moulding of harnesses is very common.

I'd be very wary about trying to get it off with any kind of chemical. Cable insulation is only PVC, anything that does any damage to the over molded foam it likely to damage the cable as well.

[Penelope Stopit]

Megaflow said:

Despite looking like rubber, it is more than likely foam. Foam over moulding of harnesses is very common.

I'd be very wary about trying to get it off with any kind of chemical. Cable insulation is only PVC, anything that does any damage to the over molded foam it likely to damage the cable as well.

If it is foam like Megaflow has mentioned, you can pull alot of it of so as to be able to re-shape/re-route the loom, you can also tape over what remains on

[Escy]

Thanks for the replies. It was foam. I used a hair dryer to soften it and slowly picked it apart, took hours to do.